PADDOCK LAKE — The old cliché says the records can be thrown out when two impassioned, friendly yet heated rivals square off.
The Westosha Central-Wilmot varsity baseball game, which weathered a storm of light rain and thunder, lived up to its billing Tuesday night in Paddock Lake.
And while the records can usually be thrown out, there was no denying the Falcons’ perfect start to the season at 7-0.
The Panthers found themselves up 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh, but Central stormed back with a fury and reeled off five runs to walk off Wilmot 6-5 and remain perfect on the season at 8-0.
Westosha is 8-0 and 3-0 in the Southern Lakes Conference, while Wilmot (3-4, 2-1) suffered its first SLC loss.
“I’m sick to my stomach over this loss,” Wilmot head coach Karl Richter said. “To say the least, this was a tough loss. I am proud of how our guys competed the entire game, we just need to finish.”
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The crazy turn of events in Central’s last wraps began with a clutch two-run triple by senior Mason Mitacek, and suddenly Wilmot’s four-run cushion was a tie game at 5-5.
Then, Gunner Schwartz came up with the bases loaded and one out. He hit a screamer that was caught by the second baseman, who flipped to second to try to turn the double play but the Central runner was called safe. Amidst the chaos and confusion, Mitacek tagged up at third and darted home to try and score the winning run.
Before the Wilmot players realized Mitacek was running, he was already at full speed, and the throw was late.
“He’s fast,” Central coach Jacob Morman said of Mitacek, who returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown during football season. “He’s probably our best base runner. It goes as a sac fly, but he stole a run. It was a bang-bang play at second. Lot going on. Heads-up play by Mason.”
Ruby tosses a gem
A phenomenal start by Wilmot pitcher Chance Ruby was squandered. The sophomore allowed only two hits and one earned run, striking out five in six innings to set the Panthers up in prime position to win.
However, Wilmot junior Jackson Price was rocked around in the decisive inning for three earned runs and four walks in two-thirds of an inning.
Brody Schulte started for the Falcons and allowed four earned runs and struck out six in five innings, while Carson Sieler fired two innings of two-hit, one-run ball to close it out.
For Morman, it’s been a successful season because this journey began back in the winter.
“These guys have worked extremely hard all offseason, bought into the team concept and that hard work is paying off,” Morman said. “Our pitching has really been outstanding every game up to this point. Our guys are taking the ball, attacking hitters, and then executing big pitches in important spots. We have had contributors up and down our lineup. We have a lot of unselfish guys on this team that just want to be successful and will do whatever the team needs that day.
“Honestly, tip your cap to Ruby for Wilmot today. He really pitched a nice game and made it difficult for our guys. Two big moments that kept us in the game were in two separate innings they had runners on third with no outs and those guys didn’t score. It kept the game close.
Westosha only mustered four hits in 25 at-bats, but the Falcons took advantage of three Panther errors.
Mitacek finished 2-for-3 with the two-run triple and Sieler added and RBI single. Max Nottingham had the Falcons’ other hit (1-2).
Ruby went 4 for 4 to lead all hitters and scored three runs. Preston Jones added three hits, including an RBI triple.
“Chance Ruby was outstanding on the bump and at the dish,” Richter said. “After a shaky start in the first inning, Ruby was dominant for the next five innings.
For the rest of the season, with expectations getting higher with each win, Morman implores his guys to stay in the present.
“Our goals are to stay in the present and keep improving every day,” he said. “We tells our guys, ‘Be a champion in everything you do.’
“Top to bottom there are just a ton of great dudes on this team. They are team-oriented and a selfless group of kids. Pitching has been outstanding all season with a lot of guys contributing. We have guys that are willing to compete day in and day out, not just on the field but with each other to get better.”